Donald Trump insists Turnberry is considered 'one of the greatest courses in the world'. Photograph: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump has confirmed his purchase of the iconic Turnberry resort and golf course in Ayrshire.

The billionaire American, whose existing golf course project in Scotland has been overshadowed by a series of controversies, has bought Turnberry from the Dubai-based Leisurecorp.

The sum is undisclosed but Trump is believed to have paid considerably less than the £52m Leisurecorp bought the venue for in 2008. The subsequent economic crash effectively led to Turnberry being on the market immediately with Trump's name routinely linked with a buyout.

Within the last week, that speculation intensified with the deal now confirmed by Trump himself. Turnberry boasts a five-star hotel as well as three golf courses.

"It was an opportunity, as far as I was concerned," Trump told golf.com. "Turnberry is considered one of the greatest courses in the world. It's a special place. It's an important place.

"This is a fabulous property in a great location. We're going to bring a new level of luxury to the hotel. Our aim is to make it the finest golf hotel in the world."

Trump was uncharacteristically coy when asked if one of the most famous venues in golf will bear his name. "Trump Turnberry' has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" he said. "We'll make that decision fairly soon. In a couple of days."

Turnberry was restored to the Open Championship rota in 2009 after earlier concerns about the infrastructure around the venue. Attendances at Turnberry Opens also tend to be low in comparison to other Open venues.

"Turnberry is a great favourite among the players and it's on the Open rota for sure," Dawson said. "Donald Trump is investing in golf properties in Great Britain and Ireland. He must have great faith in the future of the game, which is very heartening from a businessman of his stature.

"I'm quite sure if he does buy Turnberry, he will be putting a lot of investment in."

Trump was similarly upbeat about his relationship with the R&A, which promises to be a source of intrigue.

"Some of the greatest championships in the history of golf have taken place at Turnberry," he added. "And the golf course itself is considered one of the greatest in the world. Some rate it as the best in the world.

"I'm not going to touch a thing unless the Royal & Ancient ask for it or approve it. I have the greatest respect for the R&A and for Peter Dawson. I won't do anything to the golf course at all without their full stamp of approval."

Trump's newly-built International Links on the outskirts of Aberdeen has seen the businessman embroiled in high-profile rows with the local community and the Scottish government. A plan to place wind turbines within view of the course infuriated Trump to the extent that he took legal action in a bid to halt it. A court ruling went against Trump earlier this year.

As recently as last month, Trump insisted he would divert attention away from Scotland and towards the Doonbeg course he recently purchased in Ireland.

"I said until they give up that charade of these ugly turbines that kill all the birds and probably make people sick with the humming noise and just destroys the environment, until they give that up [we won't invest any more]," Trump said.

"We have our great course, you can't even get on it, it's so packed, it's phenomenal. And I said I'm going to build a second course and other things, when they abandon that nonsense of the wind farms.

"In the meantime, I bought Doonbeg, and I'm sure Scotland is not exactly thrilled about that; I can tell you for a fact they are not. I bought Doonbeg and I'm focusing our efforts on Doonbeg in terms of Europe. Doonbeg is going to be amazing."